A major new community festival celebrating one of the Gwendraeth Valley’s most significant historical figures will take place in Tumble this month, bringing together hundreds of people for a day of heritage, music and celebration.
TAKING place on Saturday, July 11, the festival will commemorate the life and legacy of Jac Tysha (Jack Hughes), one of the leading figures of the Rebecca Riots, while showcasing Tumble’s pivotal place in one of Wales’ most significant social movements.
Bringing together local residents, schools, artists, historians, musicians and community organisations, the event promises a unique blend of history, creativity and community spirit.
The highlight of the day will be a spectacular historical procession through the streets of Tumble, with hundreds of participants dressed as the Merched Becca. The parade will follow a route connected to Jac Tysha’s life before culminating at the Tysha Memorial, where the Meibion Mynydd Mawr Choir will perform in tribute.
Gŵyl Tysha has been developed by photographer and artist Huw Alden Davies, musician Sian James, Aled Thomas of Beast Promotion and Tumble Community Council. The organisers say the project builds on the success of the acclaimed Great Mountain Portrait, transforming local history into a living artwork through photography, performance, storytelling and community participation.
While the festival itself will be the centrepiece, it forms part of a much wider community arts and heritage project designed to leave a lasting legacy.
In the months leading up to the event, schools, clubs and community groups have been taking part in workshops exploring the story of Jac Tysha and the Rebecca Riots while creating costumes, banners and artistic responses for the procession.
Following the parade, Tumble Park will host a free family festival featuring live music, performances, exhibitions, heritage displays and activities throughout the afternoon, before an evening programme of live entertainment rounds off the celebrations.
The project also includes a programme of commissions bringing together photographers, writers, performers and visual artists to create new work inspired by the landscape, history and people of the Gwendraeth Valley.
These works will be showcased at Ffoto Cymru Festival in Cardiff later this year, introducing the story of Tumble and Jac Tysha to audiences from across Wales.
Organisers also plan to publish a major book documenting the project, its creative process and the community’s involvement, while a permanent mural will be created in the village to ensure Jac Tysha’s legacy remains visible for generations to come.
Photographers and filmmakers will document every stage of the festival, creating a lasting archive for future exhibitions, publications and documentary projects.
As well as celebrating local history and culture, the festival will support fundraising for the Wales Air Ambulance. Organisers hope Gŵyl Tysha will become an annual fixture, celebrating the heritage, creativity and community pride of the Gwendraeth Valley.
Event programme
- 11.30am: Assembly
- 12 noon: Historical procession
- 12.30pm–5.00pm: Gŵyl Tysha Festival, Tumble Park
- 6.00pm–11.00pm: Evening music event
Organisers describe Gŵyl Tysha as “a living portrait of a community reclaiming its place in Welsh history”, bringing together art, heritage and collective memory to ensure the story of Jac Tysha continues to inspire future generations.
